Mark Nelson joined the Knox College Athletics staff in the fall of 2023 as the Knox College Director of Track & Field and Cross Country and Head Track Coach.
In his first year with the Prairie Fire program, Nelson worked directly with Abranet Layne, who set the school record in the triple jump and was the Midwest Conference indoor and outdoor champion in the event. The program also produced the league indoor mile champion in Lance Miller, who set the team’s conference meet record in the process.
Prior to his arrival at Knox, Nelson was the head track and field coach at Bethel College, where the team broke 25 school records in his two years at the helm and produced 2 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-Americans. His athletes also set a conference record in the men’s long jump and earned conference performer of the year honors in the women’s field events and the men’s overall in 2023.
Nelson spent a decade coaching at Central Methodist University (CMU), starting as the assistant track coach for jumps in 2010 before taking over as the director of track and field and cross country for the next nine years. Twice he was named the Heart of America Conference (HAAC) Coach of the Year and coached 36 NAIA All-American student-athletes, including three national champions and and HAAC record holders in the men’s long jump and pole vault. Nelson also was a member of the NAIA Indoor Games Committee from 2017-19 as well as the NAIA Track and Field Executive Committee in 2019-20 while at CMU.
Before CMU, Nelson coached locally at Dixon High School (1998-2010), first as an assistant boys track coach before adding a boys and girls cross country coaching duties (assistant, co-head coach, head coach) in 2002. He was then elevated to head coach of boys track and field in addition to his cross country coaching in the spring of 2006. As co-head coach of the boys cross country team in 2008, the squad became the 2A Illinois State champion, while as the head coach of the girls team, the team qualified for state for the first time in school history, placing fourth. Among his athletes were the Illinois Prep Top Times 2A Boys long jump champion in 2008 and the Illinois High School Association 2A Boys State pole vault champion in 2002.
Nelson also helped out at Sauk Valley Community College as the head cross country coach for three years (1998-2000) with his 1999 men’s team placing 13th at the NJCAA Division II National Championship. And from December 2004 into 2005, he served as an assistant coach with the Sterling Track Club, coaching an intermediate girls’ Junior Olympic national qualifier in the long jump.
Nelson is a graduate of Augustana College, majoring in secondary education and history, beginning his coaching career there as a student assistant coach. Nelson earned his master of education in curriculum and instruction from National-Louis University.
